After splitting the first two playoff games with Sarnia, the Stratford
Holloway Automotive Minor Atoms travelled to Sarnia last Friday night and fell
short 3-2. Quinn Appel scored on a power play and Mark Pyzowski scored late in
the third assisted by Kaleb Martin.
Stratford hosted Sarnia on Sunday and needed a win to keep the series alive. The team got off to a great start, with a 4-0 lead. Ryan Haines opened the scoring assisted by Brett Knechtel and Appel. Nathan Gibb scored a power play goal assisted by Gabe Emms. Knechtel got the third goal on a power play, assisted by Haines. Ethan Plotnik made the score 4-0, assisted by Haines. Despite the fantastic start, Sarnia was not going down without a fight. They fought back with four straight goals, tying the game. With 47 seconds left, Nathaniel Smith potted the game winner assisted by Appel and Haines.
The win Sunday forced a fifth game in Sarnia Monday night. Despite their best efforts, Stratford was defeated 8-6. Pyzowski scored 2 goals while Emms, Appel, Smith, and Haines all notched one. Assists were earned by Andrew Leitch, Eric Haynes, Gibb, Smith, Knechtel, Haines, and Plotnik.
The team played a great series and look forward to their next round of play-offs.